From its “Golden Age” in the 1940s and continuing well into the 1970s, the trucking lifestyle saturated American pop culture. Throughout this period, trucking was a common theme in music and film. From the respectable image of the early “Knights of the Road” to the rebels in contemporary times, truck drivers and their big rigs have been a mainstay in American pop culture. Introduction
Siegel, Arthur S, photographer. Detroit, Michigan. A truck driver. Detroit Detroit. Michigan United States Wayne County, 1943. Apr. Photograph. https://www.loc.gov/item/2017849302/. Throughout time, the portrayal of truck drivers in film has reflected the changing political, economic, and social climate. In the first half of the twentieth century, truck drivers were characterized as knights of the road.

The 1940 film, They Drive by Night, features the Fabrini brothers as independent truck drivers who are struggling to become economically secure during the Great Depression while also fighting corruption within the industry. Similarly, the 1941 film, The Gangs All Here, features hardworking truck drivers who were honest despite being crushed by the 'man.' Early Film: Knights of the Road
As the political and social atmosphere shifted, so did the image of truck drivers. In the 1970s, the country experienced a fuel crisis and an uncertain economy. The tumultuous times were reflected in popular cinema. The image of the hardworking knight of the road declined, and truck drivers became romanticized as modern-day cowboys. In 1977, Smokey and the Bandit became the second-highest-grossing film. Featuring a daring trucker who smuggles bootleg beer past a bumbling state trooper, the film encapsulated the modern cowboy narratives. Then in 1978, Convoy painted truck drivers as rebels and inspired the public to popularize trucking even more. 1970s Film: Cowboys & Rebels A movie poster for the 1977 film, "Smokey and the Bandit." In the American Truck Historical Society collection. Throughout the 1980s-90s, trucking remained in popular film, but the portrayal of drivers shifted yet again. No longer the cowboy, drivers began to be represented as dirty, dangerous, and uneducated.

In the 1991 film, Thelma and Louise, two women embark on a fishing trip turned police chase. While on the run, the women encounter a rude truck driver who makes obscene comments and gestures at them. In the 2001 movie, Joy Ride, college student Lewis Thomas and his brother Fuller use a CB radio to play a cruel prank on a truck driver known by the alias of Rusty Nail. Seeking revenge, Rusty Nail pursues the brothers ultimately killing multiple people in the process. Modern Film
The movie poster for the 2001 film, Joy Ride. Like in film, trucking was a common theme in popular music. From the 1960s to 80s, trucking culture spurred the creation of ‘Truck-Driving Country’ which was a subgenre of country music. The genre was heavily influenced by the oral history of trucking and the fluctuating social and economic conditions in the United States. In 1973 and 1979, the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) disrupted oil supplies which directly impacted the trucking industry. To conserve gas, the speed limit was reduced to 55 miles per hour. The 1976 song “Convoy”, written by C.W. McCall, is often cited as a response to these changing conditions. Music: Trucking Country A video of the song "Convoy," performed by C.W. McCall. After the 1973 oil crisis, truck drivers adopted the use of CB radios to locate cheaper fuel and identify speed traps. Inspired by this practice, the general public popularized trucker culture by utilizing the CB radio and CB slang. By the mid-1980s, the use of the CB radio and the popularity of trucker culture faded. CB Culture From its “Golden Age” in the 1940s and continuing well into the 1970s, the trucking lifestyle saturated American pop culture. Throughout this period, trucking was a common theme in music and film. From the respectable image of the early “Knights of the Road” to the rebels in contemporary times, truck drivers and their big rigs have been a mainstay in American pop culture. Conclusion From Knights to Bandits & Outlaws Trucking in Pop Culture Conclusion Early Film 1970s Film Modern FIlm Introduction Music
CB Culture